Tire changer



June 9, 1931. P, v, MORGAN K 1,809,388

TIRE CHANGER FilecLNovf 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l glwvmrw' 62% W. mig@@512i 03W @M 61H01 ne 11 5 P. v. MORGAN June 9, 1931.

TIRE CHANGER Filed Nov. l, 1925 Patented qlune 9, 1931l runner' v.MORGAN, or BUFFALO,

NEW YORK, Assrenon, BY ivinsivn Assrelviamvrs,

TC)y PNEUIV'ATC APPLIANCES, INC., O'JE1` KENMQRE, NEV YORK, ACORPORATION 0F NEW YORK TIRE CHANGER Application filed November 1, 1928;kSerial No. 316,450. f

This invention relates to an air pressure actuated tire changer and moreparticularly to a machine 'for expanding and controlling the split metaldeinountabl'e rim of an automobile tire, for the purpose of removing orreplacing a tire thereon, although the same can also be employedwherever va machine is required to contract or expand an annular memberor the like at the will of the operl0 ator. y

.15 air for filling tires, and in whichV the operation of the machine incontracting or eX- panding the rim is'under the control of a singlevalve which is designed so that at any time the movement of the'machinecan 'be ar- '20 rested or reversed at the will of the operator.

Another aim is to providevsach va machine in which ther tire rimengagingelements are so arranged that the rim can be thrown on themachine and the same immediately contracted by manipulation of the airvalve without requiring speci-al or careful placement of the rim and inwhich the tire engaging elements are flexibly mounted and engage the rimat different points so that a firm grip or engagement is obtained on therim and at the same time the elements give or yield so that there is nodanger of distorting or bucklingthe rim during either the contracting orexpanding movement of the machine.` i

A further aim `is to render the machine easily and quickly adjustable todifferent sized rims without the provision of a piston having anexcessive throw such adjustable Another object is to provide a valve foradmitting pressure to one side of the piston and exhausting the pressureon the oppo-V site side and in which the exhaust of pressure from oneside of the piston is subse- 5 quent to the admission of pressure to theopkmeans in the present application being shown inder 'head and theothercn the end otthe lpiston rod and each having shoulders and hooksatfits outer ends to engage and expand .justv themselves to theYchanging form of the posite side so that the movement ot the piston iscontrolled through the exhaust and the piston is cushioned on oppositesides by air presu sure, the movement being obtained by the ditferential in the pressure. By this means the piston works smoothly andis under the complete control ot the operator au all times so that thereis little danger'oi injuring the rim through too rapid and uncontrolledoperation of the piston. 60

Other aims are to provide a device which is extremely simple to operate,which is inexpensive in construction, and is composed of but few parts,which parts are kso arranged as not to get out of order readily evenwhensubjected to severe and constant use.

In theaccompanying drawings Figure l Vis .a1 side elevation of a tire Vchanger embodying my invention and showing a part of the standard brokenaway.

Figure 2 is atop planview thereof showing a tire rim about torbe'contracted :trom the tire, the contracted position of the rim beingshown by dotted lines. f

Figure 3 is an end View of the machine 75 showing the tire and rimremoved.

l Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sec-y tion, taken on line 1.4,Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section through the controlling valve.

Figure 6 isa cross section of the valve, taken on line 6-6, Fig. 5..

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts in each of the severalviews.

In its general organization, this machine comprises a horizontalenclosed Vstationary cylinder having a piston and a pistonkrod,

a hand valve which admits and exhausts. air alternately to and fromopposite ends of the cylinder and through the exhaust controls themovement of the piston in opposite directions and a pair of cross headspivoted at their centers for horizontal movement, one of said crossheads being mounted on the outer cylor contract the tire rim. By theprovision o these cross heads, the same yield and ad- 1 o tire rim as itis contracted and expanded and is secured to the pedestal in anysuitable manner. This bed comprises a cap portion 12 which receives theupper end of the pedestal, a relatively long horizontally extendingguiding arm 13, having a slot 8 and ridges or rails 9 on opposite sidesof said slot, and a horizontal bracket 14 which extends in the oppositedirection relative to the guiding arm 13.

The cylinder is composed ot an outer head 15 which is secured to the endof the bracket 14 by a bolt 16, a front head 17 having an outwardlyprojecting foot 18 which is secured to the bed by bolts 19, and acylinder 20 which is secured to the end heads 15 and 17 by means of tiebolts 21. Any suitable means can be provided for insuring a tight ointbetween the heads and cylinder.

Within the cylinder is arranged a piston 22 and a piston rod 23 which issecured to the piston and extends outwardly through a gland or stuilingbox 24 in the cylinder head 17. The piston as shown is composed'of acircular head 25 on opposite sides of which two cup washers 26 are heldby washers 27 and nuts 29 and 30. AThese nuts are screwed onto the endof the piston rod and also serve to secure the piston'to the piston rod.

The piston rod 23 is composed of a tubular section 31 which is closed atits inner end by the cap nut 30 and a solid rod 32 which is slidinglyreceived in the tubular section 31 so as to provide a telescoping pistonrod. The inner rod 32 is provided with a series of holes 33 extendingtherethrough and the outer tubular section is provided with a hole 34which is adapted to register with each of the holes 33. To hold thepiston rodY at any desired adjustment in length a pin 35 is providedwhich is adapted to be dropped through the registering holes 33 and 34and hold the piston rod at any desired adjusted length.

, Byv this means the piston rod can be vextended to operate on rims oflarge diameter, and avoids the necessity of providing a long cylinderwhich would interfere with the operation of the machine on very smallrims.

On the rear or outer cylinder head 15 a cross head 36 is pivotallymounted at its center for horizontal movement. This cross head comprisesan upper arm 37 which is pivoted to the top of the cylinder head by a.bolt 38, a lower arm 39 pivotally mounted on the bolt 16 between thesupporting bracket 14 and the rear cylinder head, and cyl- `tlatingvalve head 59 at its end.

indrical end portions or shoulders 4() connecting the ends of the arms37 and 39.

To the lower end of each of these cylindrical end portions or shoulders40 a hook 41 is secured by means of a bolt 42, these hooks extendinghorizontally outward and having upturned ends to engage the lower liangeoit the rim 43. For the purpose of providing auxiliary hooks to engagethe upper flange of the rim 43 when unusually large rims are beingoperated on. and thereby prevent distortion of the rim in contractingthe same, pins 44 rise from the ends of the cross head and on these pinsare loosely and removably mounted hooks 45 which have under turned endsadapted to engage the upper flange ofthe rim.

On the outer endv of the telescoping section 32 of the piston rod ablock 46 is secured and to this block is pivotally secured a cross head47 which is similar in form to the rear cross head 36, having` upper andlower arms 48 and 49, cylindrical end abutment members 50 connecting thearms 48 and 49 and formed integrally therewith, lower upturned hooks 51secured to the under side of the head at the outer ends thereof andupwardly extending pins 52 which removably carry under turned hooks 53which grip the upper flange of large rims in contracting the same. f

The cross head is pivotally mounted on the block 46 by a vertical bolt54. In order to guide the cross head 47 in the slot 8 in the bed, andsupport this cross head, the lower arm 49 is provided with a shoe 55which rests onl the guide rails 9 and has a downward projection 155which is arranged between the rails 9 and prevents lateral movement oftheend of the piston rod and the cross head. Y

Air to the cylinder is supplied to the cylinder from a supply line 56,which is secured to a suitable Y pipe 57 to the other branch of which issecured a line 58 having a tire in- By this means, when the tube or shoeof the tire has been repaired and replaced on the rim by means of thepresent machine. the tire is conveniently inflated from the branch line58.

The Y fitting connects with the controlling valve 60. This valvecomprises a casing or housing 61 which is secured to a vertical bracket62 by means o'l bolts 63, this last named bracket being supported by andformed integrally with the head 17 of the cylinder. The inner surfaceoit this valve easing is of conical form and receives a conical valveplug 64. As best shown in Fig. 5, this plug is provided with a centralrecess 65 which receives a compression spring 66, this spring bearingagainst the face of the bracket 62 and urging the plug 64 outwardlyagainst its conical seat. At the front end of the plug 64 a stem 67 isprovided which extends outwardly from the casing and supports the handle68 by means of which the v plug is turned.

The Y fitting through which air pressure is supplied to the valve 60connects with an inlet port 69 in the lower end of the Lvalve casing.Diametrically opposite. or on the upper side of the valve casing arestricted exhaust port 7 0 is provided which permits the escape of airat a restricted rate.

On diametrically opposite sides of the valve housing, outlet ports 71and 72 are provided, the port 71 beingconnected by a pipe 73 with therear end of the cylinder and the port 72 being connected by a passage inthe cylinder head 17 (not shown) with the interior of the cylinder atthe inner end thereof. To connect these ports and regulate the pressureat opposite ends of the cylinderto move the piston in any desireddirection or hold it in any desired position, an inlet groove 74 isprovided in the lower part of the plug 64 and is arranged to alternatelyconnect the inlet port 69 with the outlet ports 71 and 72 and on theopposite side of the plug an exhaust groove 75 is provided which isadapted to alternatelyv connect the exhaust port 7 6 with the outletports 71 and 72. Tt Ais apparent that when the exhaust groove' 75connects with the outlet port 71, that the air inlet groove 74 will beconnected with the outlet port 72, thereby to move the piston rearwardlyand contract the rim, and vice versa, and in the inoperative position ofthe valve, shown in Fig. 6, that pressure is neither admitted to norexhausted from the cylinder and hence the piston is held in the positionat which it was arrested by turning the Valve to neutral. It will alsobe noted that the inlet groove 74 is longer than the exhaust groove 75.By this means, assuming that it is desired to move the Apist-onforwardly, the the valve handle is moved counter clockwise and the airpressure inlet groove Erst registers with the port 71 to admit pressureto the rear end of the cylinder and balance the pressure in the Jfrontend. Thereafter the exhaust groove 75 registers with the port 72 andpermits air to escape from the front end of the-cylinder and the pistonto be moved forwardly. By the restriction of the exhaust port 70, theair escapes at a restricted rate and consequently the piston movesrelatively slowly and uniformly and is cushioned throughout its movementso that there is little danger of an inexperienced operator injuringthev rim by too rapid operation of the machine.

Assuming that it is desired to remove a tire and tube from a split rimto repair the same, the rim is thrown on the machine so that the back ofthe rim, or the part opposite the split rests on the rear hooks 42, andthe opposite part of the rim and tire rest on the outer end of theguiding arm 13.` It the tire rimis of unusually large diameter, the pin34 in the piston rod is then withdrawn and the piston rod extendedasdesired, the pin' 34 being then replaced to holdthe piston rodV at thedesired length.

The handle of the valve is then turned clockwise which first admits airtothe outer end of the cylinder and then permits a` restrictedA exhaustof air 'from the innerv end thereof. This exhaust of pressure moves thepistonV inwardly and moves the head 47- against the tire'rim. As soon asthe hooks 51 engage under the rim, the operator moves the valve handlecounter clockwise, which movement: iirst connects the inlet groove 74with kvtheport`72 and admits pressure to the inner end of thel cylinder'and subsequently connects thel exhaust groove 75 with theex'- haust:port 70, exhausting the outer end of the cylinder at a restricted rateand permitting the piston to be moved rearwardly at a restricted rate.This moves the swinging head 47 towardthe cylinder 'and the hooks 51thereof engage the lower edge of the rim and break and contract it asshown in'Fig. 2. When the rim is contracted, the valve is movedtoneutral, shown in Fig. 6, and the tire removed.v The rim may then beheld in its contracted condition until Vthe 'tire is repaired.

The repaired tire is then replaced about the rim, one side beingsupported on the arm 13 and the valve 60 is turned to move the head 47away from the cylinder. The rim `first expands due to its own spring andat the end ot the expanding movement, shoulders formed by thecylindrical parts 40 and 5'()i at theends ofthe swinging heads 36y theJtour v and 47. engage the inner face oft the rim and push itoutv untillthe rim ends abut.

The rim ends are then locked together `by the usual lockprovidedthereon, and the head 47 is' moved toward the cylinder to permitofremoving the repaired tire and rim.

It is obvious tha-t by providing swinging heads-to engage the rim attheir opposite ends,`

that these heads automatically ind .the tire 1rim and engage it at fourpoints and as the rim contracts, these heads automatically `ada-ptthemselves to the .changing form of the rim, thereby preventing'warpingor distortlng of the rnn. v

` When unusually wide rims are-being operated on, after the rim 1sengaged by the lower hooks 41 and 51, the -four removable hooks 45z and53 are placedon the pins l44 and 52 of eachhead and properly engagedwith the'u-pper edgeot the rim. This provides 'additional support forwide 'rims and avoids distortion of the same.

As a whole this invention provides a simple and eicient air tire changerwhich is simple and vinexpensive to operate and is not liable to get outof order with constant use. It also is sodesigned that there is littledanger of injuring the rim by distortion of the saine in eitherexpanding orcontracting the same and its operation is at all times underthe complete 4control of the operator.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tire changer including a horizontal stationary enclosed cylinder, apiston in said cylinder, a piston rod secured to said piston andprojecting outwardly from said cylinder, means for introducing fluidpressure to, move said piston in opposite directions, a cross headpivoted intermediate its ends for horizontally swinging movement on theouter end of said piston rod, and a second cross head similarly mountedadjacent the opposite cylinder head, each of said cross heads comprisingupper and lower arms and vertical rounded parts connecting said arms attheir outer ends, said rounded parts forming shoulders adapted to engagethe inner side of said rim to expand the same, upwardly inturned fixedhooks pivu otally mounted at the lower outer ends of each `verticalrounded part, and adapted to engagethe lower flange of said tire rim tocontract the same and removable inturned hooks pivotally mounted at theupper outer ends of said vertical rounded parts and adapted to engaget-he upper flange of said rim.

2. A tire changer comprising a fixed body portion provided withlaterally extending guide portions at one end thereof, rim en-` gagingmeans mounted on said frame at the opposite end thereof, a. rod mountedfor horizontal movement parallel to the said guide portions, an openframe receiving the end of said rod, means for securing said frame atthe top and bottom sides to said rod, means carried by the frame anddisposed at opposite sides of the rod to engage a tire rim, meanscarried by the frame for engaging said guide portions to steady andguide said rod, and drive means for said rod to drive the same in eitherdirection to expand or contract a tire rim. 3. In an a1r operated tirechanger, a cylinder, means for mounting said cylinder in a fixedposition comprising a fixed bracket extending lengthwise of the cylinderand provided with a guide, a piston operable in said cylinder, a pistonrod secured to said piston and extending outwardly from said cylinder,means carried on the outer end of said cylinder for engaging a tire rim,an open frame receiving the end of said pistonrod, Vmeans for securingsaid frame at top and bottom sides to said piston rod, means carried bythe frame and disposed at opposite sides of the piston rod engage a tirerim, means carried by the frame for engaging said guide portion tosteady and guide said piston rod against the unequal bending stresses asoccasioned by the contracting andvexpanding of the rim.

In testimony whereof I hereby aiix my signature. A

` PURLEY VV. MORGAN.

